Modus Operandi

Demons, who's M.O. is to kill innocents. The Brotherhood of the Thorn tried to achieve this by working from the inside out.

Modus Operandi, also known as M.O. or Mode of Operation, is the general operations and behavior characteristic to a specific individual or group of individuals. Below is the Modus Operandi and classification of the species of the major magical beings appearing on Charmed who played a pivotal role throughout the series, explaining characteristics the sisters used to differentiate between Good and Evil.

Good Witches

Classification: Magical beings, usually human, practitioners of good/white magic

Modus Operandi: Use spell casting abilities and potion making skills to help/protect others or eliminate evil threats. If bestowed with active powers, they will thwart evil beings.

Follows the Wiccan Rede

Will not use Wiccan powers for Personal Gain

Notable Examples: Patty Halliwell, Penny Halliwell and Billie Jenkins

Evil Witches

Classification: Magical beings, work for the dark side, practitioners of black magic

Modus Operandi: Use spell casting abilities, potion making skills and active powers to harm innocents and good witches.

Will not hesitate to use powers for Personal Gain and breach the Wiccan Rede.

 Will often disempower good witches if they are in the way of a goal rather than killing them

 Will not hesitate to punish the guilty.

Notable Examples: Tuatha, P. Russell and Evil Enchantress, Stillman Sisters, Ruth Cobb, Sea Hag, Robin

The Charmed Ones

Classification: Good Upper-Level witches, Protectors of the Innocent

Modus Operandi: Use active powers, spell casting and potion making abilities to protect the innocent and eliminate the forces of evil.

Invoke the Power of Three to eliminate the Forces of Darkness.

Powers and Emotions are tied; bound as One

Notable Example: Prue Halliwell, Piper Halliwell,Phoebe Halliwell, Paige Matthews

Warlocks

Classification: Magical beings, work for the dark side, practitioners of black magic

Modus Operandi: Hunt and kill good witches for their powers, will not hesitate to betray other magical beings

Notable Examples: Jeremy Burns, Hannah Webster, and Rex Buckland

Demons

Classification: Magical beings, work for the dark side.

Modus Operandi: hunt, track and destroy innocents, the forces of good and other magical beings; be they human, warlock, witch or demonic.

Can be further classified as Low-Level and Upper-Level

Serve and answer to The Source of All Evil

Determined to spread evil throughout the world

Notable Example: Belthazor

Whitelighters

Classification: Angelic Beings, Guardian angels

Modus Operandi: Guide and protect innocents and future Whitelighters as well as neophyte and high level good witches

Use their ability of healing to heal an injured party

Powers and emotions are tied together

Notable Example: Leo Wyatt, Samuel Wilder

The Elders

Classification: Angelic Beings, High-Level Whitelighters.

Modus Operandi: Appoint, guide and bestow powers upon mortals and beings who they believe are tremendous paragons of Good transforming them into Whitelighters. watch over the world and humans.

Bestow vast knowledge of magical beings upon Whitelighters and good witches

Notable Example: Gideon, Odin, Sandra

Whitelighter-Witches

Classification: Magical being, child of a witch & Whitelighter

Modus Operandi: As the child of a Whitelighter, he or she will be trained to follow in the work of his or her magical parents; protecting the forces of good and annihilating the forces of darkness

Bestowed with magical powers such as Orbing, telekinetic orbing, Shielding, as well as basic Wiccan powers depending on non-Whitelighter parent's heritage and other vast magical powers

If non-Whitelighter parent is a witch, the Half-Whitelighter will develop a varied form of their power tied to orbing; such as telekinetic orbing and possibly Combustive Orbing, and so forth.

Powers and emotions are bound as one

Like Whitelighters, they are a natural enemy of Darklighters

Notable Examples: Paige Matthews, Wyatt Halliwell, Chris Halliwell

Darklighters

Classification: Magical beings, work for the dark side, Whitelighter's evil counterpart

Modus Operandi: Eliminates those mortals capable of becoming future Whitelighters, eliminate good humans with Touch of Death

Destroys Whitelighters with poisoned tip arrows shot from a crossbow

Spread evil through impregnation of an innocent

Some may possibly guide evil witches

Some Darklighters may be Spirit Killers

Notable Example: Alec

Spirits

Classification: Spirits, Apparitions

Modus Operandi: Guide, watch over, haunt or seek vengeance on other beings, human or magical.

Can be further classified as Poltergeists, Phantasms, Evil Spirits or merely an apparition

Notable Example of Good: Penny Halliwell, Patty Halliwell

Notable Example of Evil: Jackson Ward

The Source of All Evil

Classification: Ruler of the Underworld. An ancient demonic creature, the most powerful and vilest of all evil.

Modus Operandi: Eliminate the forces of good

Eliminates those considered a betrayer or traitor of the dark side

Ultimate Goal: To destroy the Power of Three and the forces of good by any means

The Triad

Classification: Virtual emperors of the Underworld; Cabal of 3 High Level Demons; The Evil Power of Three.

Modus Operandi: Infiltrate and monitor the work of demons in hopes of successfully eliminating the Charmed Ones and all that is good.

Appear in corporeal or non-corporeal form

Served under the Source but wanted to take over the Underworld

Notable Member: Baliel

Vampires

Classification: Immortal creatures of the night, a whole different network of evil beings

Modus Operandi: Feeds on the blood of humans

Attack humans in human or bat form, draining humans of their blood in hopes of transforming them into Vampires.

Serve their Vampire Queen

Notable Example: Rowan

Beings Worth Honorable Mention

Alchemists

Classification: Demonic scientists

Modus Operandi: Create life essences used to possess innocents

Will use unique power to transform the dead into the living and vice versa

Notable Example: Kierkan

Angels

Classification: Beings of Light

Further classified into 3 categories:

Guardian angels - Protection Spirits

Modus Operandi: Protect charges with an unseen hand of guidance

Act as a charges inner voice, conscience and instinct

Angel of Death

Classification: Powerful angel, possibly second in line to the Angels of Destiny

Modus Operandi: Uses power to bestow death upon those who's time it is to die, bringing their soul and life essence to it's prospective place in the Afterlife.

Angels of Destiny

Classification: Most powerful of all good forces and angels.

Modus Operandi: Charts and formulates destinies in accordance to the Grand Design.

Will chart a new destiny for those who are lucky enough to achieve their previous.

Avatars

Classification: Neutral Beings, neither Good nor Evil

Modus Operandi: Persuade Upper-Level beings of good or evil into their way of thinking, Eliminate those considered a threat to there ultimate goals.

Originally the Avatars were assigned names: Avatar of Force, Avatar of Power, later changed to Letters of the Greek Alphabet: Alpha, Beta, and Gamma

Will create a Utopia no matter the cost

Notable Example: Alpha

Brotherhood of the Thorn

Classification: Elite, very powerful group of Upper Level demons

Modus Operandi: Seek out and eliminate high ranking members of society who they use to achieve goals

 Attempt to assimilate their kind into society to infiltrate it in hopes of spreading evil

Seek to eliminate the Forces of Good

Members are bound by a Blood Oath.

Notable Members: Raynor, Vornac, Belthazor, Klea, Tarkin and Trigg

Bunyip

Classification: Monstrous creature

Modus Operandi: Lies in waters of the Australian Outback

     It is said to bring disease and will bring a human to death through drowning if he or she disturbs it's source of food

The Cleaners

Classification: Ethereal neutral beings

Modus Operandi: Will prevent the exposure of magic no matter the cost

Cupids

Classification: Angelic beings

Modus Operandi: Use their Rings of Love to create relationships through Telepathic Suggestion

Uses Ring to travel through, decelerate, or accelerate time.

Notable Example: Coop

Demonic Bounty Hunters

Classification: Demonic Beings

Modus Operandi: Belonging to the Demonic Bounty Hunter breed of Demons, Zotars possess more advanced powers than a regular Bounty Hunter

Usually hired to track down fugitive demons

They infiltrate and intercept a fugitive demon's work or call

May offer to work with Good Magical Beings if their goal is the same

They track magical beings by honing in on their bounty's scent

Notable Example: Krell

Demonic Children

Classification: Spawn of Upper-Level Demons.

Modus Operandi: Trained to follow in demonic/evil parent's footsteps

May lure innocents into traps and kill them

Notable Example: Ari, Freckles, Jersey

Demonic Sorcerers and Sorceresses

Classification: Dark magical beings

Modus Operandi: Use black magic and evil sorcery to curse, infect, harm and possess innocents or other magical beings

Use innocents as pawns to achieve personal goals

Notable Example of a Sorcerer: The Boss, Cronyn

Notable Example of a Sorceress: Kali, Imara

Familiars

Classification: Magical creatures

Modus Operandi: Often found in feline form but can be dogs, horses, snakes, etc.

Guide witches and protect them while they learn the Craft

Naturally attuned to the seasons and phases of the Moon

Will teach a young witch a heightened awareness of her environment

Notable Example: Kit

Firestarters

Classification: Neutral magical being, can be persuaded to evil

Modus Operandi: Use power to set ablaze objects or incinerate other beings, human or magical

   If persuaded to evil, they are often found as Bodyguards of the Source or high level demons such as the Triad

Notable Example: Christy Jenkins

Furies

Classification: Demonic women

Modus Operandi: Act as judge, jury and executioner to anyone they consider an "evil doer" no matter how small the offence and kill them.

   Will disable a victim using their sharp talons

   Use smoke to make victim's hear the cries of all his or her former victims

   Use smoke to seek out portals of unexpressed fury in witches converting them into Furies

Gargoyles

Classification: Ancient magical statues

Modus Operandi: Will often be found as part of architecture on sacred grounds or homes of magical beings

Will detect any demonic activity, coming to life weakening and warding off even the most vilest of demons

Genies

Classification: Magical Tricksters

Modus Operandi: Found within magical lamps, bottles, containers, etc.

Will offer 3 wishes to anyone who releases him/her from their lamp.

They often grant a wish that has a hidden consequence attached.

Notable Examples: Genie, Jinny

Gods and Goddesses

Classification: Supreme, powerful magical beings

Modus Operandi: Rule, create, control, and own lands, elements, emotions, powers, abilities, and etc

They rule their designated land, element, emotion, etc with a power associated to their name.

Some may abuse their title such as The Titans

Notable Examples: Gaea, Goddess of Earth

Grimlocks

Classification: Demonic beings

Modus Operandi: Steal the eyesight of innocent children to see unique Auras that surround good humans and powerful magical beings

     Use power to feed on an Aura, strangling their victims, ultimately killing them, very powerful

Identification: Albino skin, black suits, whirling red eyes

Gypsies

Classification: Magical beings

Modus Operandi: Belong to Tribes

Often exercise their Romani culture

May be bestowed with powers similar to those of witches: Spell casting, potion making, etc.

If bestowed with active powers, such as Foresight they will use it to help/advise others

May invoke powers from magical artifacts to enhance

Notable Example: Ava Nicolae, Lydia Nicolae and Teresa

Innocents

Classification: Mortals, magical or non-magical

Modus Operandi: Often possess something that the forces of evil want

May be high rank member of society or merely a child who if attacked benefits the forces of evil

Will be hunted, tracked, possessed, captured, sought or destroyed by evil beings

Some may possess a power, soul energy or magical artifact sought by the darkside for evil's gain

May be a paragon of good whose work will lead to consequences for or the destruction of evil

Notable Examples: Dr. Griffiths, Aviva, Janna, Kyle Brody, Henry Mitchell, Miles, etc.

Lords of War

Classification: Malevolent immortal beings

Modus Operandi: Lead armies in wars to achieve goals- usually related to the acquisition of power

     Attacks a victim with his Crystal Sword– which captures magical powers

Notable Example: Gabriel Statler

Muses

Classification: Angelic Beings of Pure Light

Modus Operandi: Guide their charges with an unseen hand of Inspiration

Inspire a charge's passion and creativity

Notable Example: Melody

Nexus

Classification: Point of immense spirtual or Wiccan Energy

A Wiccan Nexus: Further classified as a magical battleground for Good & Evil

Modus Operandi: Found at a point equidistant from the 5 Basic Elements: Earth, Fire, Metal, Water & Wood

located at a center of a Pentagram

Home to the Shadow

Called a Suxen in a spell so demons wouldn't use it

Notable Example: The Halliwell Nexus

Nymphs

Classification: Magical beings

Modus Operandi: Always found in the company of a Satyr

Tree sprites found frolicking and dancing around in wooded, grassy areas

Use power to nurture and preserve forest and nature

Use power to access the Eternal Spring

Notable Example: Daisy

Oracles

Classification: Neutral magical beings, male or female

Modus Operandi: Use power to foresee the future to advise other magical beings

Can be found under the employ of upper-level demons or advising powerful beings, good or evil.

Notable Example: The Source's Oracle (Evil), Oracle seen at Manor in Oh My Goddess! Part 1

Ordo Malorum

Classification: Unholy Hierarchy of Upper-Level Demons

Modus Operandi: Command the war against the forces of good

Will capture, kill, and conquer Good Witches who protect the innocent.

The Generals leading this Hierarchy distribute a Level 2 Weapon amongst their servants to use to destroy the Good

Notable Example: Litvack

Phoenix Witches

Classification: Elite assassin witches

Modus Operandi: Descendants of those witches burned in the 17th century Salem Witch Trials

They have no allegiance to anyone or anything but their vengeance

They will kill any bounty that they are hired to take down

Identification: Born with a distinctive birthmark of a Phoenix rising from the Ashes

Notable Example: Bianca

Priests and Priestesses

Classification: Magical beings; High or Dark

Modus Operandi: Will use their knowledge of rituals to perform ceremonies such as Handfastings, Wiccanings, funerals, wakes, marriages, etc for other magical beings.

Powerful witches can become High Priestesses after death

Notable Example of Good: Grams

Notable Example of Evil: Dantalian

Seers

Classification: Demonic beings

Modus Operandi: Uses their ability to see into the future to advise other magical beings

 Skilled potion and tonic makers

 Will only kill if necessary

Notable Examples: The Seer, Kyra

Skeletal Beings

Classification: Demons

Modus Operandi: Hover between Life and Death

Feed on Life Forces to sustain themselves through centuries of Unlife

Seek an unending supply of Life Essence to gain actual Life and immortality

Appear to have control over animals such as birds (crows) that they use to track victims

Require a highly explosive potion and a powerful, properly worded spell to be vanquished; Prior to Necron being vanquished by the sisters, the last group of witches who attempted to vanquish a Skeletal Being were vaporized in the process.

Notable Example: Necron

Soothsayers

Classification: Magical healers, good or evil

Modus Operandi: Often sought out by magical creatures who have survived an attack

Can offer council to those who need advice

Apply their knowledge of ancient remedies and elixirs to help the wounded

Do not possess any power except their wisdom

Soul Traders

Classification: Demonic beings, rare

Modus Operandi: Will capture and collect the souls of humans

Trade Souls for power, rank, wealth or other magical goods

May make deals with humans, their souls in exchange for something they wish

Notable Examples: Zahn, Sargon

Succubi

Classification: Former witches who have renounced all human emotion and made a pact with Darkness to protect them self from heartbreak.

Modus Operandi: Succubi attract and lure men and feed on their testosterone.  Incubi attract and lure women and feed on their estrogen

May appear in dreams and nightmares

Notable Example: Darla

Valkyries

Classification: Demigoddesses

Modus Operandi: Scout the battlegrounds for dying warriors/soldiers

Bring souls to Valhalla in preparation for the Final World Battle

Notable Example: Freyja

Witch Doctors

Classification: Magical beings, watchdogs of evil

Modus Operandi: Banish evil spirits from demonic footholds

Use unknown magic rituals to find and destroy evil beings

Interpret magic used in a questionable manner as evil

Ultimate Goal: To eliminate evil in all it's shifting guises

Witch Hunters

Classification: Humans, may possess magical abilities

Modus Operandi: Often descendants of a generation/family of other Witch Hunters or humans who may have been wronged by a witch

Will seek to lure and destroy any witches

Consider all witches evil and unnatural

May pose as innocents

Notable Example: Agent Jackman

Wizards

Classification: Magical tricksters

Modus Operandi: Use ability to create Illusions to achieve personal goals

Will betray anyone to get what they seek

Possess an array of vast magical powers

Notable Examples: Unnamed Wizard, Rathmere and Merrill

Zodiacs

Classification: Astrological Entities

Modus Operandi: Act as animals in the 12-year Chinese Calender

They are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig

The Strongest are the Warrior signs

Other Information: Many years ago, Buddha set up the eternal cycle and each year his sacred staff would be passed to one of the 12 Zodiacs.

The Zodiac who holds the staff would spread his will over the world for the full year, which provided a balance to all things. If demons get the staff, they would use it to spread evil. Each year the dark monks try to obtain. The only time that a demon could take the staff is in the 12 hour window when the Zodiacs gather to pass the staff.